Title : Sweet Folly 6

Disclaimers : All characters not mine, but the creations of Megumu Okada. Am just playing fast and loose with them for entertainment purposes only...

Author's Notes : Elle enters the picture. . .and the worst is yet to come. . .

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Dias and Folli moved into the welcome shade of the trees. The cool mountain breeze was a welcome relief after their long walk in the sun; valle and Sui Reme took a few moments to catch their breath in the shade of an oak tree that looked as though it owned the entire plateau. Folli moved forward to the edge of the little clearing, and watching her, Dias smiled to himself.

He had heard of the young Sui Reme from Elle, off and on through the years; also from Crimson, who was a firm friend of Folli's husband Waaks Porelo. He had seen her in action on the night Gau Ban had earned his fighting name of Black Howling, and recognized in her a fighting ability to chill the blood out of any malicious mischief-maker. He had heard the story of how she and Elle had become hand-fasted sisters, and was more than grateful that his rambunctious sister had fallen in with the calm, level-headed Sui Reme. Dias had always felt that Elle's constant association with men needed to be balanced with the company of women. But to find women equal to the task of keeping up with his baby sister was a well-nigh impossible task.

In Folli, however, Dias quickly saw that his one remaining wish for Elle had been answered. The Sui Reme had managed to smooth over some of the rougher aspects of Elle's personality; and her deep affection for the young sevalle did not prevent her from applying the stern measures that Dias himself would never have dared to try. Strangely enough, despite the occasional outbursts of violent feeling, the two women always managed to resume their friendship on an even stronger footing.

A soft cry of dismay brought Dias thoughts winging swiftly back to the present, in time to see Folli hurrying toward a familiar red-headed figure seated under a spreading tree at the plateau's edge. With a soft sigh, he moved forward. Folli was kneeling by Elle, who was surrounded by four jugs of wine, at least two of which were already drained, and the third half-empty by the look of it. Her lovely eyes of jade were dulled by the alcohol she had imbibed, and a befuddled smile spread across her face as she met the indigo ones of her best friend.

"Ne. . .Folli-chan. . ."

"Oh, Elle!" exclaimed Folli softly, not a trace of anger in her voice, her eyes filled with an exasperated expression that reminded Dias very much of his own mother's face when Elle had come home from one of her adventures. "Elle. . .I was so worried!"

"Anou. . .I jesh wanted a li'l drink. . ."

Folli looked up at Dias, biting her lower lip. The valle scanned the ground around his sister, and then nodded towards a limp money-bag.

"There's the money," he whispered, drawing Elles attention.

"Aniki! So good. . .to see you. . ."

"Daijoubo desu ka, imouto? Are you sure you're all right?"

"HAI!! Here. . .have a drink. . ."

"No, not right now," smiled Dias, as Folli reached for the money bag and weighed it tentatively in her palm before looking inside it. Relief stole across the Sui Reme's features as she noticed that the bag was a little more than half-full with assorted coins. Much better than nothing at all.

"Elle. . .really. Why did you have to take the whole bag?" sighed Folli, although her voice now held the merest thread of amusement. Elle, when quietly drunk, wore a defenseless aura that never failed to soften Folli's heart; no matter how angry the Sui Reme was, her resolutions to give Elle a good talking-to would melt at the sight of the younger girl's happy smile. "I should be angry with you."

"Ne, Folli-chan. . .dont be. . .just wanted a li'l drink. . .you're always so stingy. . ."

"Well, I never!" came the outraged exclamation, accompanied by a deep chuckle from Dias. Elle nodded, pointing to her brother.

"Aniki's here. Hell take care of it. . .I have the best brother in the world. . ."

"I know," smiled Folli at Elle, then at Dias. Folli smoothed down the fiery fall of red hair that had managed to work itself out of its braiding, pushing it back behind Elle's ears. "He helped me find you. Come on, Elle-chan. Let's go home."

Elle pushed her lower lip out in a stubborn pout. "Don't want to."

"Elle. . ." interposed Dias, in the firm and gentle voice that had normally won Elle's obedience when they were children together. "Folli-san and I haven't eaten yet. Let's go and have lunch."

"Awww, aniki. . .not yet. . ."

"Elle-chan, it's not nice to keep people waiting for a meal."

"Come on, Elle, up you go. . ." coaxed Folli, taking hold of Elle's wrist. The Sui Reme rose to her feet and gave the sevalle's unresponsive arm a tug. "Please. . ."

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"Dias was so very kind that day. I didn't think I could be saw drawn to another man..."

Folli's voice faded away to silence. Waaks pressed a kiss into her shining dark hair, and gave her a reassuring squeeze.

"So far, I haven't seen anything for you to feel guilty about, love," he murmured, hiding a tender smile in her hair. "As far as I recall, Dias Ragu is a very handsome man. As you are neither blind nor a man-hater, I would have been more surprised to hear you say you weren't attracted to him."

Folli shook her head slowly, snuggling even closer to her husband, as if to imprint his comfortable warmth and bulk on her mind forever.

"You havent heard the worst part, Waaks. . ."

//end part six//